Monday, 31 January 2011

With the ever-increasing apparent necessity for music to come with a genre label there comes an increase in the number of artists seeking to push past these boundaries and defy taxonomies by blending a wide variety of sounds. It is not often, however, that this is done successfully as it is all too easy to either go to far and lose a sense the essentials of rhythm and melody; when done well, though, the results can be thought-provoking, immersive and even danceable. Cogidubnus is one producer who is consistent in this and works to defy genre categories in both his own tunes, his DJ sets and will soon be providing a solid platform for other artists with the launch of his label, Broken Bubble. We caught up with him for an interview and he laid down an exclusive mix for us, which can be streamed and downloaded below.

Hedmuk: For those who don't know, what's your name, where are you from and how would you describe your sound?

Cogidubnus: I’m Guy, I’m from and have spent most of my time in and around Manchester. Hmm, my sound…deep, ambient, percussive electronica that could vaguely be-called post-dubstep.

H: Would you describe yourself as from a musical background, or is it something that you have picked up yourself?

C: Yeah, both my parents have spent their whole lives playing in orchestras and my mum’s a music teacher so it’s always been a strong presence in my growing up. I played the piano, guitar and oboe at various stages of childhood, but wasn’t very committed with any of them at that time. Fortunately I can just about still remember a few piano chords which has come in handy recently.

C: My brother introduced me to The Orb and Future Sound of London when I was about 13 and some of those early-90s ambient albums made a huge impression and I still listen to them a lot now. I’ve always been a bit of sci-fi geek too, so the music from a lot of film & TV stuff has wound its way into my consciousness, particularly Vangelis’ Blade Runner soundtrack and the sounds the guys at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop were coming up with in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

H: Your output is very varied in terms of the mood it carries, do you find yourself setting out to make beats for a particular environment (e.g. club, bedroom etcetera) or is it a less controlled process?

C: It’s not really that controlled from the off, I just bounce ideas around until they form into something cohesive. I don’t write in a highly structured way at all, I’ve got a young daughter so I rarely get the time to spend several hours at once making music. Having only short bursts to produce can be incredibly frustrating, but it also yields some little moments of inspiration and new perspectives on a sound or tune that I might not have had otherwise.

H: Manchester seems to be one of the few places with a large number of artists, such as XXXY & Damu, who are willing to push things forward irrespective of genre boundaries: what's your take on this situation? And, as part of this loose collective, can you shed some light on what is behind this experimentalism?

C: I’ve DJ’d with those guys quite a bit at Sicknote and This City is Ours, two nights that always had a very open musical policy, vaguely aligned to the dubstep scene but basically giving DJs carte blanche to play whatever they want. Given that a few of those early nights (one in particular I can remember all 3 of us being at) were, er… less than well-attended, many of us have got experience of just playing our own stuff through a decent system just to a handful of other DJs and producers and playing in those kind of situations encourages a bit more risk-taking. But mainly I think, we’re all independently making the music we want to be making and the Manchester scene over the last couple of years has seemed particularly receptive to people who want to push the boat out a bit more and not necessarily play to genre expectations.

H: You're about to launch the new Broken Bubble label; what has inspired you to make this move and can you shed some light on any future releases lined up?

C: After putting together the Pan-Galactic Memory Bank EP, I felt really happy with it as a collection of tracks but couldn’t see a natural home for it on any other labels, there’s quite a wide range of bpm’s going on and as something I felt very attached to, I wanted to keep full control over how it was marketed and distributed. I’d also been in contact with Duskky & Hurtdeer from the Mothers Against Noise collective down in London for a few months whose tunes I absolutely adore and they were really into the idea of getting involved and have each delivered stunning 4-track collections that I can’t wait to get out there for people to hear. We’re also putting together a free compilation of new tunes plus some remixes of tracks of the first 3 EPs from the likes of Wagawaga, Second Line, Muteqx and Manc band From the Kites of San Quentin - I’m hugely excited about the way that’s shaping up so far, and all being well we’ll try and get that out by the end of March. There are plenty of tasters of our sound on the mix…

H: Your mix is an expansive one in terms of the variety of sounds represented, how did you go about selecting a tracklist for it?

C: There’s tunes from my last couple of sets at This City is Ours and a few tasty beats that have hit my inbox in the last week or so. I always try and cram a lot of different styles in these days – I love my chilled beats but wanted to make sure there was plenty of dancefloor energy in this set as well, so I’ve tried to blend things around making sure that it’s never stays at just one particular vibe for too long and hopefully maintains interest throughout.

H: Seeing as it's January, what do you want to have achieved by this time next year?

C: Getting a vinyl out would be nice, but I’m not really setting myself any major goals at the moment beyond getting the label up-and-running and continuing to enjoy making and playing music.

H: Finally, is there anything forthcoming or in the pipeline that you want to put the word out about?

C: Wagawaga and Hurtdeer will be coming to Manchester to help me launch Broken Bubble at This City is Ours at An Outlet on March 12th. It’s a great intimate little venue round the back of Piccadilly Station and Waga’s doing a brand new all-hardware live set, so it’s one not to be missed.

Tuesday, 25 January 2011

An undoubted heavyweight of the scene, Cyrus today released his exclusive mix for GetDarker as a free download. Featuring tracks and dubplates from names such as Distance, Tunnidge and Pinch this mix is a sub-driven journey which should be snapped up by any discerning listener.

Monday, 24 January 2011

It might have been the rise of the screeching, mid-range-led sound that has in recent years been taking over the image of dubstep that made the deeper, half-step end of the spectrum seem like the less soulful, even danceable option or it might easily have been 'Horror Show'; what is more clear though is the recent reclamation of this sound as the opposite of boring or motionless by a number of up-and-coming producers. The likes of Killa & Instinct, Lurka, TMSV, Myrkur and District are breathing new life into the sound, and Pressa is another name that can be added to that list. With a similarly progressive take on the sub-bass, halftime basics of dubstep and an audible jungle influence in not only his breaks but also his undulating basslines, Pressa is taking the sound forward with him. We caught up with the man himself to ask him a few questions, and he has laid down the latest installment in our exclusive mix series which features plenty of dubs and forthcomings aswell as an added segment of old school jungle tunes. Enjoi:

Hedmuk: For those who don't know, what's your name, where are you from and how would you describe your sound?

Pressa: I'm Pressa and I'm from the London borough of Bexley. I build dubstep and sub heavy beats for the mind, body and soul.

H: Would you describe yourself as from a musical background, or is something that you have picked up yourself?

P: It's something I've picked up. I was listening to underground music from a young age as my older siblings were into hardcore, jungle and house & garage music. No one in my family plays any instruments but we do love music, the neighbours used to complain alot (big up Colin!)

H: There is a clear jungle influence in a lot of your tunes, where does this influence come from and have you always made tunes in this way?

P: Yeah jungle is a big influence, I'm really into breaks and of course sub bass which are the main ingredients of jungle. It's been in the background a lot growing up so it would be hard to make music without the influence being there. I wouldn't say that all of my tunes are jungle influenced but a lot of them are yes.

H: What or who else do you take influence from when it comes to making beats?

P: I listen to a lot of drum and bass, dub, deep house, soul and old hip hop (music with soul or feeling). Music and sound in films influence me, I like the way it can add suspense or evoke a feeling.

H: You play regularly on Rood FM; how did this come about and what sort of vibe do you try and achieve with your show?

P: I was on my way back from the pub and I bumped in to a girl I hadn't seen in a few years and she was with Fish who runs Rood FM, this was in 2008, 2 years later he hits me up and asks if I'm interested in a slot. I play a lot of my own material on the show as well as stuff with a similar vibe to me from upcoming and established producers. I also play some dnb and jungle. My show is every other Sunday from 8-10pm GMT but I am considering doing it every week.

H: Seeing as it's January, what do you want to have achieved by this time next year?

P: To have produced more music, get more bookings. I like to go with the flow really and just see what happens.

H: Finally, is there anything forthcoming or in the pipeline that you want to put the word out about?

P: I've got a 3 track 12" out on Orientis which should be out around April, also I am part of the forthcoming Mindstep compilation which is a collaboration with Crisp, as well as a 4 track original/remix EP with Bojcot Selectah which will be out on Top Drawer Digital in the summer.

Sunday, 23 January 2011

Spyro turns in yet another tight selection of some of the biggest tunes doing the rounds in grime at the moment. With a tracklist boasting dubplates and exclusives from the likes of Joker, Swindle, DJ Spooky, D.O.K and the man himself this mix provides a decent picture of how grime sounds going into 2011 and makes predictions as to the direction of the instrumental aspect of the genre in a similar way to Elijah & Skilliam's recent '01012011 Mix'.

Wednesday, 19 January 2011

Known for his diverse catalogue of productions ranging from thumping heavy rollers to skippy 2-step numbers, Dom Hz is a well-known name on the bass music circuit in Manchester. With well-supported releases on labels including SubDepth and Open Earz, not to mention the inclusion of 'Without You' on the Joe Muggs compiled 'Adventures in Dubstep & Beyond', and regular appearances at the likes of Hit&Run and Sicknote already comfortably under his belt, his trajectory is undoubtedly an upward one.

This album is an eleven track collection of bootlegs and comes with a note from the man himself which reads:

'THESE REMIXES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE ARTISTS WITHOUT PERMISSION.

ALL EXTRA PRODUCTION ETC BY DOM Hz

THIS IS A FREE ALBUM MADE FOR FUN & THE GOOD OF THE DUB MUSIC COMMUNITY!

After sly sends on radio sets and over Twitter, the unrest between cousins and upcoming MCs Marger and Rival has now progressed to war dubs as Marger vocalled a beat from one of the scene's producers-of-choice, Mr. V. Introducing the track as necessary to 'clear something up', he goes on to call out MIK, another member of the group of MCs loosely joined together as the New Wave; and with MIK's reply already recorded and debuted on Logan Sama's show on Kiss FM it looks as though this could be the beginning of a series of exciting war reports which could either make or break the hard work already put in by the New Wave last year.

Tuesday, 18 January 2011

Our first feature of 2011 comes courtesy of Dutch don Rik Kooyman, AKA, Myrkur. Possessing an expansive production repertoire, underpinned by a diverse and complex range of influences, Myrkur has consistently delivered quality beats of real originality. We caught up with the man for the low-down on the Dutch scene, his influences and aspirations for the New Year. Myrkur has also put together an exclusive mix representing the full spectrum of his current musical tastes, with an extensive dubplate showcase of his beats as well as exclusives from others. Enjoi:

Hedmuk: For those who don't know, what's your name, where are you from and how would you describe your sound?

Myrkur: My real name is Rik Kooyman and I currently live in Santpoort Noord, in Holland. My sound has changed quite a bit throughout the years. My first tunes were very much inspired by Postrock and IDM. Then I became interested in Detroit Techno and that influenced my music a lot. Lately I'm really into the dark half-step vibe that's happening again.

H: How did you get in to producing beats?

M: I was already making music before I started making Dubstep tunes. I recorded songs on my PC with acoustic guitar and piano.

M: In terms of music I intended for listening at home it would definitely be "Why". I find melody and atmosphere very important and I was really pleased how this tune turned out. If I had to pick one of my tunes I really intended to be played in a club I would say "Immortal" or "Metropolis". Both are completely different but I like them both a lot.

H: Who or what influences the music you make?

M: My main influences from outside the Dubstep scene would be Radiohead, Sigur Rós, Mono, Mogwai, Helios and Aphex Twin. From within the Dubstep scene itself I would say definitely Kryptic Minds at the moment, as well as Breakage, 2562, anyone who's really pushing the sound forward actually.

H: We'd be interested to hear your views on the Dutch bass music scene (TMSV was certainly positive about it). Is it a strong scene? What are your favourite nights and places to play?

M: Holland has always been one of the biggest countries in terms of Dubstep. There have been some massive events here and there's still loads of stuff happening each weekend. The scene itself is quite compact, with everyone pretty much knowing each other. There are some excellent producers out there, such as (ofcourse) TMSV, but also Presk, Inofaith, Akkachar and Astroposer just to name a few.

H: Your mix touches on quite a few different styles. We noticed the same with the tunes you have on your Soundcloud: there's the relaxing feel of tunes like 'Away' and 'Bliss' on the one hand and a deeper, darker vibe on tunes like 'Momentum' and 'Void'. Do you make any attempt to define your music stylistically? Into genres such as dubstep, future garage, Autonomic for instance?

M: I'm quite schizophrenic in that aspect actually (laughs). I just make whatever comes up or whatever I feel like making. It depends completely on my mood and inspiration. The biggest separation I make while starting a tune is if I want to make something to play in a club or something which should be listened to at home.

H: Were you trying to get at anything in particular with this mix with your selection and blends?

M: I built this mix up from 3 parts. The first part is mainly a showcase of some of my tunes, as well as some other tunes I love at the moment. The second part is mostly made out of IDM and D&B. The third part is some IDM stuff. I blended the three parts with some ambient in between them. The whole thing kinda represents my current taste in (electronic) music.

H: Seeing as its January I wondered if you could share your musical goals for year with us: what do you want to have achieved by January 2012?

M: Well 2011 should be a good year. I'm planning to launch a record label and I hope the events I organize with Radical will continue to thrive. Music-wise I hope I'll be able to create some tunes I'll be happy with. I'm quite fickle with my inspiration so I never know what will happen.

H: Just to finish off, any forthcomings or plans in the pipe-line you would like to share?

M: There are a couple of releases forthcoming. "Metropolis" and "Pulse" will be released on 12" on Deity Records. Also, "Homecoming" together with the Von D remix of that tune is still forthcoming on Subbalicious. I'm also planning to release some of my own music on my own label as soon as it has launched.

Sunday, 16 January 2011

Damu has been kind enough to send us over his latest mix as another little exclusive, featuring new dubs from himself and others. For those unaware, Damu has had an almost meteoric rise since we first featured him in May and has become something of a favourite of Dusk & Blackdown's (see Blackdown's interview with the man here). With forthcomings on Keysound Recordings, Local Action and Silverback Recordings amongst others, now is the time to get to know.

Tuesday, 11 January 2011

S-X, the young Midlands producer behind last year's all-dominating grime instrumental 'Woooo Riddim', has given out 10 tunes for free in the form of his '3000 Followers EP'. The title gives it away somewhat, but the release comes as a celebration of S-X reaching 3000 followers on Twitter. He also pledged to give away a free twenty track EP once his follower count reaches 5000.

With some of his best tunes to date, such as the skippy '0121' and the epic 'Bricks', and all in high quality, this is a definite cop.

Monday, 3 January 2011

This time last year Elijah & Skilliam produced their perfectly blended selection of what was to define, in a large part, instrumental grime in 2010 in the form of their difficult pronounce '01012010 Mix'. Once more, the pair have mixed a collection of tunes which point towards the future of this rapidly progressing are of the grime scene.